COLUMBUS, Georgia -- Hurry-up offenses are changing college football, and Nick Saban has some concerns he would like the NCAA to research before they decide whether to approve a rule that could slow uptempo teams.

"I don't think coaches should be making this decision," the Alabama coach said Friday, speaking for the first time about the issue. "I don't think I should make it, I don't think any coaches should make it. I think somebody outside all of us should decide what is in the best interest of the game, whether it's player safety, game administration, whatever it might be."

The 10-second rule would require offenses to snap the ball with 29 seconds or less remaining on the 40-second play clock. The proposal will be reviewed by the Rules Oversight Committee this week and a vote on whether to enforce it starting with the 2014 season could come Thursday.

Nick Saban discusses 10-second rule proposalAlabama coach Nick Saban speaks with reporters at length about the 10-second rule proposal that would slow hurry-up offenses. Saban believes pace of play needs to be controlled by officials rather than coaches with uptempo offenses. Saban speaks more about the rule, including player safety and whether it should be passed, in this 9-minute interview before a speaking engagement at the Minority Coaches Association of Georgia on Friday, February 28, 2014.

Saban did not provide clear and full support of the 10-second proposal during his nine-minute discussion with reporters at the Minority Coaches Association of Georgia, but he did cite his own concerns and whether hurry-up teams are providing more opportunities for injuries on the field.

"Look, I'm all for what's best for the game," Saban said.

Saban believes a 20-plus play differential between teams like Alabama (65.9 per game) and uptempo teams such as Texas Tech, BYU and California, which averaged 88 plays or more per game last season, equates to four extra games per year.

"I think player safety is the No. 1 thing, and that was my No. 1 issue as well," Saban said. "I think when players get tired they're more susceptible to get injured if you can't substitute players when they're tired -- or if they're injured and you can't get them out of the game."

Saban's three concerns related to hurry-up offenses were outlined in detail: player safety, officials not being in position when the ball is snapped and competitive imbalance.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, whose uptempo offense knocked off Alabama on the way to the BCS National Championship in 2013, continued to stand his ground against the rule proposal Friday.

Georgia head coach Mark Richt (Julie Bennett / al.com)

"... There's no documented evidence," Malzahn said. "I've said that before that this is the non-rule change year and I think we need to investigate it more, talk through it, have a full year and if we're going to change rule we need to think through it."

Most coaches in college football agree with Malzahn, according to an ESPN poll. Only 19.5 percent of 128 FBS coaches support the rule.

"I think this is more of a style of play issue than a player safety (issue)," Richt said Friday. "I think if you could teach offensive players to play six plays in a row, you can teach defensive players to play six plays in a row."

When asked Friday what his reaction would be if the rule proposal is approved next week, Malzahn said he was not concerned.

"I'm not thinking that way, to be honest with you," Malzahn said.

Saban and Arkansas coach Bret Bielema were in the room when Football Rules Committee met to discuss the proposal, but Saban said Friday the proposal was not his idea. Bielema made headlines last week when he cited the death of Cal player Ted Agu, and his concern that a hurry-up offense could lead to an injury or death on the field in the future.

Malzahn and Saban did not directly comment on Bielema's controversial statement.

"I'm not going to get into commenting on personal coaches' comments and feelings," Malzahn said.